A Parent's Guide to the Westside of Los Angeles

Present Now gives gifts to children at Alexandria House shelter

Present Now, the Los Angeles non-profit organization that provides gifts of necessities and specialty items for babies, children and teens living in domestic violence shelters, announced a new partnership this week with Alexandria House, a transitional residence for woman and children, located in the Mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles.

Present Now will give the children living at Alexandria House care-packages of gifts throughout the year to bring them relief, comfort and happiness to ease their hardship.

“Children living in transitional housing such as Alexandria House usually have very few possessions because they have fled for safety with their mothers, leaving behind all of their toys and belongings. Present Now’s Presents Program is designed to alleviate some of the initial stress of entering a shelter while also bringing some measure of joy during this time of acute crisis,” said Erica Fisher, co-founder of Present Now.

Children at Alexandria House will receive a birthday cake or cake-making kit along with a surprise birthday present and a restaurant gift card on their birthdays. On Valentine’s Day they will receive an age-appropriate digital device for learning and play. In September, as children return to school, they will receive a backpack full of school supplies.

“Our goal with these gifts is to create hope and some measure of comfort all year long for the child. It is also our intention that when these families transition out of shelter living into their new homes, they are able to bring all of these presents with them to begin their new lives,” said Present Now co-founder Melanie Neumann.